Taking care of your bike is essential to ensure a safe riding experience and extend the life of your two-wheeler. Whether you use your bike on a daily or occasional basis, good maintenance helps prevent breakdowns and maintain optimum performance. Find out here about the most common maintenance errors and tips from the pros on how to keep your bike in top condition.
1. Neglect regular cleaning
One of your bike's biggest enemies is dirt. Dust, mud, sand and other debris quickly accumulate on the various parts of the bike, causing premature wear, particularly on the chain and derailleurs.
- Council Clean your bike regularly, especially if you ride on muddy or sandy roads. Use a soft brush and soapy water, and avoid high-pressure cleaners, which can damage sensitive components such as bearings. A little cleaning after each ride will extend the life of parts and maintain performance.
2. Forgetting to lubricate the chain
A dry chain is not only noisy but can also cause faster wear on the transmission. However, excess lubricant can attract dust, causing the opposite effect.
- Council Lubricate the chain every 100 to 150 km, or as soon as it starts to make noise. Apply a small amount of specific chain lubricant, rotate the pedals a few times to distribute the oil, then wipe off the excess with a clean cloth.
3. Do not check tyre pressure
Poorly inflated tyres increase rolling resistance and make driving uncomfortable. Under-inflation also exposes your tyres to an increased risk of punctures.
- Council Check tyre pressure before each ride, according to the recommendations on the tyre sidewall. Properly inflated tyres increase pedalling efficiency and reduce the risk of punctures. Adjust the pressure to suit the terrain: lower for off-road, higher for road.
4. Do not align or service the brakes
Brakes are crucial to your safety, but they wear out over time and need to be adjusted regularly. A badly adjusted brake or worn brake pads can cause a loss of braking power, compromising your safety.
- Council Check the brake pads for wear and ensure that the brakes are centred. If you use disc brakes, make sure the pads and discs are in good condition. At Joe BikeOur technicians can carry out a complete overhaul to ensure your brakes are perfectly adjusted.
5. Do not adjust derailleurs
Derailleur gears allow you to change gear smoothly. Incorrect adjustment can lead to abrupt gear changes or a constant noise that detracts from the quality of the ride.
- Council If you're having trouble shifting or the gears are jumping, it could be that your derailleur is misaligned. Adjusting the stop screws or cable tension may solve the problem. For fine-tuning, a visit to the workshop may be necessary, especially if you don't have the right tool.
6. Forgetting to tighten bicycle parts
A bicycle is made up of many screwed parts, and some of them can become loose over time, especially if you frequently ride on rough roads.
- Council Check the tightness of components such as pedals, wheels, stem, handlebars and saddle on a regular basis. A quick check with a torque spanner will ensure optimum tightness without the risk of breaking parts by overtightening.
Ready to have your bike serviced?
Whether you're an occasional cyclist or a passionate one, taking care of your bike is essential to ensure optimum performance and a pleasant ride. Come and see us at Joe Bike for all your maintenance needs, from basic servicing to full repairs. Our qualified technicians will help you extend the life of your bike and ride safely.